Lever-locking mechanism.



No. 662,354. Patented Nov. 20, I900.

T. COLDWELL.

L'EVER LOCKING MECHANISM.

[Application filed Dec. 13, 1899: Renewed Oct. 25, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Qi 544mm v M Q WW QMJJ m: uckms Prrzns co, Puo'rourna. wAsnmsrow n c No;662,354. Patentedlov. 20, 1900.

"T. CDLDWELL.

LEVER LOCKING MECHANISM. (Application filed Dec. 13. 159B. Renewed Oct.25, 1900.]

(Na Model.) 2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

qwi twemo llrrn THOMAS OOLDVVELL, OF NEWBURG, NEW YORK.

LEVER-LOCKING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 662,354, datedNovember 20, 1900. Application filed December 13,1899, Renewed October25,1900. :erial No. 34,829. \Iilo model.)

To col] whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS CoLDwELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newburg, in the county of Orange and State of New Yorl ,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lever-Locking Mechanism;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in leverlocking mechanism for lawn mowersand other devices; and it consists in the novel features of constructionand combination of parts hereinafter fully described, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which Ihave contemplated embodying myinvention, and said invention is fullydisclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents alongitudinal vertical sectional View of a horse lawn-mower with myinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion ofthe machine, showing my invention and drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 3 isa side view of the parts shown in Fig. on the scale of Fig. 2. Fig. atis a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in differentpositions.

In the present instance I have shown my invention applied to a horselawnmower for adjusting the height of cut of the mower.

A represents one of the side frames of the mower;- B, the driving wheelor roller; (J, the rotary cutter; D,the stationary cu tting-blade; E,the drivers seat, and F the steering-han dlcs. The front ends of theside frames are supported by caster-wheels, (one of which is shown atG,) which can be moved up and down in the frame to regulate the heightof the-cutters from the ground for adjusting the height of cut and toraise the cutters out of operative position in moving the machine fromplace to place. Each side frameis pro vided with a vertical guide a, inwhich is located a vertically-sliding block H, to which the shank g ofone of the caster-wheels is pivotally connected. Each block H isprovided on its rear face with a rack h, the teeth of which are engagedby a pinion 70 on a shaft K, extending entirely across the machine fromone side frame to the other, so that by rotating this shaft K bothpinions are rotated and both caster-wheels are raised or lowered inrespect to the frame, thus lowering or raising the frame and cutterswith respect to the ground. At one side of the machine, preferably theright side, the shaft K is provided with a short operating-arm L,adjustably se cured theret-oin this instance by providing said arm witha collar Z, to engage the shaft to which it is adjustably secured bymeans of a set-screw Z.

M represents the hand-lever, which is provided at its lower end with aslotted portion m to engage the shaft K, so that the lever can be movedbodily up and down on the shaft. The hand-lever M is connected to thearm L, so as not to interfere with the longitudinal movement of saidlever. In this instance I have shown the arm L provided with alaterally-extending lug or projection Z which engages a slot m in thehand-lever M; butit is perfectly obvious that the lever might beprovided with a projection and the arm L with a slot, if desired. Thelever M is also provided with a forwardly-extending retaining-arm M,formed integrally therewith or secured rigidly thereto and provided atits end with a curved portion or hook m which is adapted to engage across-bar A, connecting the forward ends of the side frame or otherrigid part of the frame. The relation of the parts is such that when thelever M is in its forward position the hook m will engage the rod A andhold the lever M, the arm L, and shaft K and connected parts firmly inposition. When it is desired to change the position of the caster-wheelsto change the elevation of the cutters, the lever M will be pushedforward toward the bar A. This causes the lever M to be raised bodilywith respect to the shaft K and arm L, as shown in Fig. 4, the slots mand m permitting this movement. This increases slightly the distancebetween the end ofhook m and the IOO rearward until arrested by asuitable stop, such as is shown at A on the side frame A. To throw thelever M forward and lock it, said lever is moved forward until the hookm reaches the bar A, when the lever M is raised slightly longitudinallyto allow the hook m to pass over said bar, and is then allowed to resumeits normal position, thus locking the hook over the bar A. By this meansthe lever M can be quickly thrown to the rear to lower the cutterstoward the ground or thrown forward and locked to hold the cuttersraised out of operative position. If it is desired to regulate theheight the cutters are desired to be from the ground when in cuttingposition, theset screw Z'-can be loosened and the arm L adjusted withrespect to the shaft K to produce this result.

While I have shown this lever-locking device applied to a lawn-mower andadvantageously employit in connection with the devices such as are shownfor adjusting the machine vertically, the lever locking device hereinshown and described may be used in other connections wherever foundconvenient without departing from my invention,

and I claim this lever-locking device broadly, whether used in alawn-mower or other device.

In the specification and claims I have referred to the longitudinalmovement of the lever M, by which is meant a movement of said leverlongitudinally of itself, such movement being of necessity transverse tothe axis of the shaft K.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a lever, a pivotal support therefor engaging aslotted portion of the lever, a rigid retaining-arm secured to saidlever and provided at its outer end with a retaining projection, of astationary part adapted to be engaged by said retaining projection,whereby said lever may be moved longitudinally with respect to itspivotal support to cause said retaining-arm to engage or disengage saidstationary part, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a shaft, of an operating-arm secured thereto, alever pivotally mounted on said shaft, but capable of movengaging saidshaft, said lever and said arm.

having the one a projection engaging a slot in the other to permit saidlever to move longitudinally, a retaining-arm rigidly secured to saidlever and provided with a retaining projection at its outer end, and astationary part adapted to be engaged by said retaining projection substantially as described.

4. The combination with a shaft, of an arm adjustably secured thereto,alever having a longitudinally-slotted portion engaging said shaft, saidlever and arm having the one a projection engaging a slot in the otherto permit the lever to move longitudinally, a re taming-arm securedrigidly to said lever: and provided with a retaining projection, and astationary part adapted to be engaged by said retaining projection,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS COLDWELL.

Witnesses:

G. B. BUTLER, W. P. WHEELER.

